Building connections at BVA Live

Anchoring junctions are multiprotein complexes that help cells connect to other cells and the extracellular matrix. Anchoring junctions are present on the lateral and basal surfaces of cells, providing strong and flexible connections. Focal adhesions are often formed due to cell interactions with the ECM substrata, which initiate signal transduction via kinase cascades and other mechanisms. Together, they provide stability and tissue integrity. There are three types of anchoring junctions:...

Mass concreting refers to the process of placing large volumes of concrete, such as in gravity dams. The heat generated during the cement hydration process and differential cooling rates within the concrete mass can lead to a temperature gradient, which can result in thermal cracks in the concrete mass.
To reduce the risk of such cracking, the concrete mix may incorporate low-heat cement and pozzolans to reduce the temperature rise. Pre-cooled angular aggregates and water-reducing admixtures...

Concrete in large quantities can be pumped across long distances for placing in inaccessible sites. This system comprises a hopper that receives concrete from a mixer, a pump to propel the concrete, and pipelines that facilitate its delivery.
For direct-acting pumps, the concrete enters the pump via the inlet valve under the action of gravity and suction created by the movement of the piston. This concrete is then forced into the pipeline and out through the outlet valve by the forward movement...

The concrete is placed as close as possible to its final position to avoid segregation. The placed concrete is then fully compacted to expel the entrapped air, and the next layer of concrete is laid while the underlying layer is still in the plastic state. The rate at which concrete is placed and compacted is kept equal.
While placing concrete, care is taken to ensure that the concrete is laid in uniform layers, and hand shoveling and moving concrete using poker vibrators is avoided. Also,...

Brick masonry uses bricks as the building blocks and involves building walls from individual bricks laid in mortar. The basic building block of brick masonry is the wythe, a vertical layer of bricks with a thickness of one brick. Within a wythe, bricks can be laid in various courses or patterns, with the most common being the stretcher course, where bricks are laid with their long edge horizontal and face parallel to the wall.
For thicker walls, multiple wythes are bonded together using...

Reinforced brick masonry is an advanced construction technique that enhances the structural integrity of brick walls by incorporating steel reinforcements. These reinforcements are either placed within the hollow cores of bricks or sandwiched between two layers of masonry, known as wythes, and are then secured in place with grout. Grout is a fluid mixture composed of Portland cement, aggregate, and water, providing the necessary bonding agent for the steel and brick.
To fortify brick walls...